The non-conference woes continued for the 3-8 Michigan women's tennis team yesterday as they fell to No. 14 Notre Dame, 9-0.
The three top players for the Irish set the tone by defeating Michigan's three upperclassmen. Michigan junior Danielle Lund fell to No. 11 Michelle Dasso, 6-2, 6-4. Junior Brook Hart lost to two time All-American Jennifer Hall, 6-1, 6-4. Senior Jen Boylen fought hard, but was beaten by No. 47 Becky Varnum, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The sixth-ranked doubles team of Hall and Dasso also handled Michigan's top duo of Hart and Lund, 8-3.
"They came through with the biggest points while we lost all the points we needed to get into the match," Michigan assistant coach Terry Zawacki said.
The loss was the sixth straight for the Wolverines, including five against higher-ranked non-conference foes. But the team's confidence is yet to wane.
"Our confidence is still up because we've played a number of top 30 teams this season. Zawacki said. "We're just trying not to think too much about the actual record."
The Wolverines are happy to catch a break from the non-conference schedule this weekend, as they return to Ann Arbor to face No. 38 Iowa Saturday and No. 34 Wisconsin Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Center. The team has compiled a 2-1 Big Ten record and is still in the hunt for a Big Ten title.
"This weekend marks the real beginning of crunch time for us," Zawacki said.
Michigan's first task is to avenge last year's tight 4-3 loss to Iowa in Iowa City. Iowa's top player, junior Natalya Dawaf, beat Hart in the last match to secure the victory. Seniors Erin Wolverton and Emily Bampton are also key for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa has compiled an 8-4 record, losing 8-1 to Notre Dame in their last match. The Hawkeyes are 1-1 in Big Ten play with a win over Illinois and a loss to Northwestern.
Sunday's opponent, Wisconsin, features the two highest ranked singles players in the Big Ten. Top player Barbara Urbanska is ranked No. 46, and Andrea Nathan is No. 58.
Wisconsin enters the weekend with a resume similar to Michigan's. Wisconsin has dropped eight straight dual matches to fall to 3-9, but many of those have come against higher ranked non-conference foes. The Badgers are 1-1 in the Big Ten with a win over Illinois and a loss to Northwestern.
03-25-99
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